So you got a new snowboard and now it’s time to mount your bindings. Mounting your snowboard bindings is fairly simple and requires only basic tools.
It’s the first step in getting ready for the season, but unfortunately, it can be tricky if you don’t know where to start.
That’s why today we are going to discuss how to mount snowboard bindings in five easy steps.
Whether it’s your first time mounting your bindings, or you just need a refresher course, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know to properly mount your bindings.
What do you need
Before mounting your snowboard bindings, it’s important to make sure you have all the necessary tools and equipment. Here are the five items you will need:
- Snowboard
- Bindings
- Screws and washers
- Screwdriver
- Ruler or measuring tape (not necessary)
Note: Use only screws and washers supplied by the manufacturers. Using different screws and washers or ones that are not intended for snowboarding could ruin the board mounts. In the worst case, the mounts could come off while riding!
Prep: Choose the right stance
To get ready to mount the bindings, it is important to choose the right stance for you.
The stance is the setup of the bindings on the board. It affects the riding, so it must be chosen carefully.
Here is what you need to choose to complete your stance setup:
- Find out if you are goofy or regular
- Choose the stance width
- Choose a setback or centered stance
- Choose the bindings angle
To understand how to set the perfect stance for you, we have created a quick and easy guide. We recommend you check it out and then return to mounting your bindings.
How to Mount Snowboard Bindings
Once you know the right stance, it’s time to mount the bindings.
Before we start, you must know how to tell the nose from the tail of your snowboard. If you want to be sure which is the nose of your board check out our guide on how to do it easily.
Let’s start with the front binding!
Note: To tell the front binding from the rear binding, look at its shape. Both bindings should have the most prominent part on the inside (Foot thumb area). Another way may be to look at the straps of the binding, the front one will have the buckle on the outside.
#1 Choose the right holes
The first step in mounting your bindings correctly is to figure out which holes to mount them on.
Depending on the layout of the holes in your board you will have different options for placing the bindings.
Let’s take the example of 4×2 holes, and 4×4 binding disc like the ones in the picture. In this case, you will be able to mount the front and rear bindings in 4 different positions:
But how to choose the right ones for your stance?
To understand this, let’s take a person who has this stance as an example:
- Stance width: 60 cm
- Setback stance
- +15/0 bindings angle
Let’s assume that the maximum width where we can mount the bindings is 63 cm.
Since we have a setback stance in the example, the front binding will have to be more toward the tail of the snowboard.
To do this, we choose an inner row of holes for the front binding. while for the rear one, we keep the maximum width.
If we now measure the distance between the center of the front binding disc and the rear binding disc we will have a stance width of 59 cm, so about the 60 cm we had chosen in the example.
In this way, we got a setback stance with a stance width of almost 60 cm like the one we want.
If, on the other hand, we had chosen a centered stance, all we had to do was keep the bindings as far apart as possible or tighten them by choosing an inner row of holes for both.
This step is very important because it does not waste your time in unscrewing and screwing the bindings to find the right holes.
#2 Adjusts the front binding
Now it is time to set the angle of the bindings.
Looking at the binding disc you will see that there are some angles. Also on the binding, in the area where the binding disc is placed, you will notice a mark.
Note: Some models of bindings have the angles written on the baseplate.
So, take the binding disc and align the angle you have chosen for the front binding with the mark.
Note: each line of the binding disc is worth 3°.
In the previous example, we will have a situation like this:
#3 Place the front binding
Now you will need to place the binding on the holes you chose in step #1.
Remember that the binding disc must be perpendicular to the board. To put it perpendicular align its holes with the holes in the board as in the picture or point the zero of the binding disc up.
#4 Screw the front binding
Before screwing in, check that the binding is centered on the width of the board.
Pro tip 1: Screw the binding slightly so you can still center it. When you are sure of the position, tighten the screws.
Now take the screws with washers and screw in the front binding.
Pro tip 2: Use a screwdriver of the same size as the screw to avoid damaging it. If you see that it doesn’t screw in right, stop and fix it before you tighten it completely. If you do this, you will avoid ruining the board.
Pro tip 3: I recommend you slightly screw them all in and then finish tightening them. Do not fully tighten them one by one.
#5 Mount the rear binding
To mount the rear binding, simply repeat steps #2, #3, and #4 as for the front binding.
Types of Snowboard Mounting Systems
When it comes to mounting snowboard bindings, there are four main types of systems. Each of them has a different layout of mounting holes.
- 4×4
- 4×2
- 3D
- Channel
4×4
The 4×4 layout consists of two rows of holes spaced 4 cm apart. The holes in each row are also spaced 4 cm apart. This type of mounting system uses four screws to secure the binding.
4×2
The 4×2 layout is similar to the 4×4, but the holes in each row are spaced 2 cm apart instead of 4 cm. This allows for more possible binding positions, giving you greater flexibility to find the perfect stance.
Channel
Channel mounting consists of a “rail” on which the screws slide. With this type of mounting, you can set infinite binding positions since the screws can be moved along the rail as much as you want.
This type of mounting system uses two screws to secure the binding.
3D
The 3D layout is a Burton patent. It consists of 8 holes arranged in overlapping triangles. This type of mounting system uses three screws to secure the binding, but it is rarely used.
Types of Snowboard Binding Interfaces
To interface your snowboard with binding you will need a binding disc. It is a perforated plastic disc that goes in the center of the binding. Its holes allow the bindings to be mounted onto the board with screws.
Note: The binding disc is provided by the dealer when you buy the bindings. However, you can still buy a different type and replace it.
There are different types of binding disc, each with different compatibility:
- 4×4
- 3D
- Re:Flex
- EST
4×4 binding disc
The 4×4 binding disc is the most common. It is compatible with 4×4, 4×2, and channel mounting systems.
3D binding disc
The 3D 4×4 binding disc is used with Burton snowboards that have 3D mounting system. In this binding disc, the holes are positioned in a triangle.
Re:Flex binding disc
Re:Flex binding disc can be used with 3D, 4×2, and channel mounting systems.
EST
This type of mounting does not use the binding disc. It is built into the binding, which means that the binding has two side holes for mounting.
EST bindings are compatible with the channel system of Burton snowboards.
To learn more about re flex vs EST and which one is the best I recommend you read our guide.
Useful resources:
What to do next…
Learn how to mount snowboard bindings may seem tricky for beginners, but with these five simple steps anyone can do it themselves.
To continue to learn something new in the world of snowboarding, I recommend you look at:
- How to strap into a snowboard.
- How to stop on a snowboard.
- What is snowboard waxing and why should I do it.
If you found this guide useful, I invite you to leave a comment and share it with your friends. For any questions about the world of snowboards, don’t hesitate to contact us!
